"Saving Money on Equipment & Services

I hate paying full price for anything.  The more I pay for something the less I have to pay my salary or put toward business development.  If you are willing to do the leg work yourself, you can happen on some excellent deals…here are some examples from my own history:

Computer Server – Dell Quad Zeon machine with all the extras - $18,000 new from Dell, purchased from Ebay.com for $4,000.

Office Phone System – Quote from a local phone system company for 5 phones and a basic voice mail system $6,000, purchased from various vendors found on the web (higher quality) for $2,000.

Office Furniture / Chairs – Quote from large business furniture dealer in town for three workstations and chairs (delivered) $5,000, purchased direct from OfficeMax (with one day spent assembling the furniture with staff – we had a little party) $1,800.

Xerox Copier – Good quality name brand copiers run $600 - $1,000 from local copier companies, purchased from a copier dealer on Ebay.com for $200.

The Downside of Office Deals

The downside when you decide to purchase equipment through auctions or discount suppliers is a possible lack of product support or local repair options.  Like many of you, I’m pretty handy when something has trouble during set-up or decides to stop working.  I get along well with the tech support folks.  I count on spending some of the money I’ve saved toward professional support and installation when necessary.  The savings are still highly significant.

Selling Online Your Excess Stuff

Are you trying to get rid of excess office equipment but don’t know what to do with it?  Instead of tossing it out or giving it to your employees, check into selling it through an auction site.  You will want to check with your accountant regarding tax liabilities and depreciation factors.  For more information on auctions, click here.

Where to Look for Office Deals

The best items to buy online are computer and equipment related.  Office phones, voice mail systems, computers, digital cameras, routers, software, copiers, fax machines, laser printers, and office furniture are where most of the deals will be found.  Check out some of these links for my favorite spots:

http://www.Ebay.com
http://www.onsale.com
http://www.bizbuyer.com
http://www.pricescan.com
http://www.officefurnituredirect.com